Trash cart

ABSTRACT

A trash cart supported on wheels for transporting a plurality of trash contained in plastic trash bags and having a relatively large opening covered by a lid that can selectively close said opening for the loading and unloading of bags containing trash within the cart.

United States Patent [191 Hedges [111 3,866,936 Feb. 18, 1975 TRASH CART[76] Inventor: James Hedges, 35709 Schley,

Westland, Mich. 48185 [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 405,865

[52] US. Cl. 280/47.26, 220/1T, 220/4 B, 220/29, 280/47.34 [51] int. ClB62b H10 [58] Field of Search 280/47.26, 47.34; 248/129; 220/4 B, 29, lT; 296/101; D12/33 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,171,068Masters 280/47.26 X

Rosenberry 280/47,26 Herman 280/47,26

Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar [57]ABSTRACT A trash cart supported on wheels for transporting a pluralityof trash contained in plastic trash bags and having a relatively largeopening covered by a lid that,

can selectively close said opening for the loading and unloading of bagscontaining trash within the cart.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TRASH CART trash cart that is particularlysuited to the transport over short distances of plastic bags containingtrash and garbage.

Prior art has developed a number of containers and I vehicles for thestorage and transport of trash. These include garbage cans with handlesthat can be lifted and carried from one spot to another over relativelyshort distances without extreme physical exertion. Other devices includeprovision of plastic bags that are disposable along with the garbage ortrash that they contain.- The usual practice with these plastic bags isto stuff the trash or garbage in the bags and then secure a closure ofthe top of the bag by means of paper encased wire that is twisted toform a secure closure.

It has been a practice in the past to place the empty plastic bags inopen disposition within a garbage can and folding over the top portionsof the bag over the rim of the garbage can prior to loading the trashinto the bag. After the garbage is loaded into the bag contained withinthe garbage can, the folded over portions of the bag are unfolded and atleast partially twisted and then the bag is removed from the can and thetop of the bag is twisted further and the twist tie" or paper or plasticcontained wire is twisted around the neck of the bag to form a closure.Bags are then placed in a convenient storage area such as a garage or inan area near the home and then are transported on a periodic basis fromthat location to a garbage truck which comes usually once a week in mostareas.

An alternative to the above procedure in the past has been to simplyplace the trash in the bag without utilizing the garbage can and againas immediately described above storing the bags in a convenient placenear the home such as a garage, basement or other area near the home andthen further transporting them across the lawn or residential propertyto the area where the trash is ultimately collected by a garbage truck.

Both of the immediately above described procedures have been found to bemore sanitary, more convenient, and requiring less exertion than simplydumping the trash or garabage into a garbage can and then storing thegarbage cans in a place where otherwise plastic bags would be stored andthen moving the garbage cans to the point of collection by the garbagetruck.

All of the above described means and methods of collecting and storageof trash from the point of disposal within the home to the point ofcollection by thegarbage truck periodically require the transport ofeither trash filled bags or garbage cans from one location to anotherwithin the curtilage of the residential home. This is an inconvenientmethod and one often requiring considerable exertion particularly if thedistance between the point of storage of trash after placement in bagsor cans and the point at which the garbage truck picks up same isconsiderable.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensiveand convenient means of both storing trash after placement withinplastic bags and transport of same to the point of collection by thegarbage truck. This and other objects of this invention are achieved bythe provision of a box-like structure having a substantially curvedsuperstructure in the shape of a lid that can be removed from the cartand wheels provided in order to roll the cart from one location to another.

These and other objects of this invention can be appreciated from thefollowing specifications and claims.

ON THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view of thepreferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an alternativeembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional representational view of anotheralternative embodiment of this invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails in construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and not oflimitation.

AS SHOWN ON THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 isa three-dimensional projection of atrash cart 10. The trash cart has a body portion 12 comprising four sideportions 14, 16, 18 and 20. The body 12 is preferably made of a sheetmetal such as an aluminum alloy. Starboard side portion 14 is in theshape of a rectangle having the longer side thereof running along asubstantial portion of the length of the cart 10.

Side portion 18 is parallel to and on the port side of the cart 12 andhas substantially the same length as the side portion 14 but aconsiderably higher height indicated by the edge 22 between side portion18 and front portion 16 as compared with the edge portion 24corresponding to the height of the side portion 14 and being the edgebetween port portion 14 and the front portion 16.

Front and aft portions 16 and 20, respectively, are substantiallycongruent and are in the shape of trapezoids having a widthcorresponding to the substantial portion of the width of the cart 10 asexemplified by the bottomedge 26 of the front portion 16 in meeting thebottom surface of the bottom portion 28. The side portions 14, 16, 18,20 and the bottom portion 28 are preferably made of the same materialand can be joined together by welding or other appropriate securingmeans in forming a rigid box-like structure.

Forward and aft lid members 30 and 32, respectively, are hingeablyattached to the top edge of the trapezoidal-like front and aft sections16 and 20, respectively. These lid members 30, 32 have an upwardlyextending curved top portion 34 extending from the top ledge 36 of theport side portion 18 to the top ledge surface 38 of the starboard sideportion 14. Handles 38 are secured near the acme of the curved portion34 on the exterior surface thereof near the boundary of lid portions 30,32 indicated at the aft portion top edge 40 of the top portion 34 of thelid member 30.

Forward and aft portions 42 are secured to the forward edge 44 of theforward lid member 30 and the after edge of the after member 32respectively.

An axle S0.is provided having downwardly extending bracket leg portions52 and 54 respectively on the port mounted thereon. Tires 60 may beprovided for a ground engaging surface of the wheels 56, 58. A forwardresting post 61 is provided near the forward end of the cart and has astopper-like portion 62 which is preferably made of rubber for providinga three point resting configuration in conjunction with the wheels 56,58 when the cart is at rest. The post 60 may be integral with anothertubular element 64 that extends forwardly and upwardly from the post 60to form a handle tube projection element 66 to which a gripping device68 may be secured. The gripping device 68 is preferably made of rubberand is in the shape of a cylinder enclosing the tube-like portion 68 andproviding a secure gripping element for the manual raising and pullingor pushing of the cart from one location to another.

In FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view through the apparatus in FIG. 1discloses a trash bag 70 containing trash and having a twist tiecomprising plastic enclosed wire 72 twisted and knotted about the, neck74 of the bag 70. It can be appreciated from the view of the apparatusshown in FIG. 2 that the bag lies entirely within thecart and that thecart is substantially lengthy to contain several bags when the lids 30,32 are closed.

It can also be appreciated from the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 that whenthe lids 30, 32 are in an open condition, a bag may be placed within theinterior surface of the curved top section 34 to facilitate theplacingof bags during loading and unloading operations.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the cart similar to theone shown in FIG. 1 with the exception that in place of the post tubularand handle structure 60, 64, 66 a forward wheel structure 80 and aforward handle structure 82 are provided.

A toe lock device as illustrated in the wheel structure in 80 in FIG. 4is provided-This toe lock is operable to prevent rotation of the casterstructure.

The wheel structure 80 is essentially a caster structure. It comprises awheel 84 attached to an axle 86 which is journallably mounted on afender structure 88. The fender structure is in the shape of a ringhaving flat sides and rounded corners that-surround the central portionof the wheel 84. The ring'or fender structure 88 extends in asubstintially horizontal direction. The fender or ring structure 88 isfixed to a bracket member 90 which is rotatably mounted to the bottom 50of the cart structure 10.

The handle 82 is in the form of a tubular L having a vertically lowerdepending portion 92 fixedly attached, preferably by means of screws 94to the forward face 21 of the'closure structure 12. The handle may havea rubber or plastic grip portion 96 attached tothe exterior forward endof the handle portion 82. Another alternative embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 5. The trash cart 10 therein describedis precisely identical to that described and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 withthe exception that instead of the double hinged lid 32, 34 shown in FIG.3, there is provided a single lid 98 that is simply lifted off thebox-like structure 12. The handles and exterior configuration of asingle lid 98 are identical to those of the double configuration 32, 34.

I claim:

1. In a cart for transporting trash, the improvements comprising: s

a body member having four sides and a bottom;

the bottom being substantially rectangularly shaped and each of thesides being attached at the bottom portions thereof to said bottomportion;

one pair of said sides being parallel with one another and perpendicularto another pair of said sides which are in turn perpendicular to oneanother;

each of said sides of said first mentioned rectangular pair beingsubstantially rectangularly shaped, with one side having a substantiallylesser height than the other of said sides of said first mentioned pair;

each of said sides of said second mentioned pair of sides beingsubstantially congruent with respect to one another and each being inthe shape of a trapezoid with the higher height of said trapezoidattaching to the one of said first mentioned pair of sides having thehigher height and the lowerheight of each of said trapezoidal sidesbeing attached to said other one of said first mentioned pair of sideshaving a lower height;

an axle and ground engaging wheel assembly being attached near the rearportion of each one of said first pair of rectangular sides;

a handle member being in the shape of an ell and hav- Inga forwardextending portion extending forward of said cart and.a lower downwardlydepending portion integral therewith and being attached near the centralportion of the forward one of said second pair of trapezoidal shapedsides;

a third ground engaging member attached near the forward center portionand extending downwardly from said bottom portion;

a lid member having a substantially upwardly extending curvedportion-and a substantially rectangularly shaped bottom edge engagingthe top edges of said side portions; I

said bottom portions of said lid member being of substantially the sameshape and dimension as the top edge peripheries of said sides;

each of said sides, said bottom and said lid being made of arelativelythin gauge of metal;

said cart operable to rotate about the axis of said wheel and axleassemblies in an upwardly pitching direction responsive to the manuallifting of said cart at the aforementioned handle;

said cart operable to be wheeled on said wheel and axle assemblies fortranslation with respect to the ground responsive to a pulling on saidhandle in a direction forward of said cart and operable to be pushed ina backward direction by translation with respect to the ground byrolling on said aforementioned wheel and axle assemblies responsive to apushing in a backward direction by said handle;

said cart operable to rotate with respect to the ground responsive to aforce applied by manual means on said handle in a direction at an angleto the forward or backward direction with respect to said cart byrolling on said wheel and axle assemblies in response to said force;

said lid operable to be manually lifted for loading and de-loading oftrash within the body of said trash cart;

whereby trash may be stored within said cart and also transported to aplace of dumping or collection by de-loading said cart at the point. ofcollection or dumping.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ground engaging member at theforward central portion of said bottom is a downwardly depending standmember having a yieldable rubber stopper placed on the bottom thereof.

3. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said lid has handles attached nearthe upper central portion thereof and can be lifted off completely fromthe body of said trash cart.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid member comprises twosections, each of said sections being hinged on the upper edge of saidtrapezoidal sides and operable to be opened in a forward and backwarddirection with respect to said cart, one of said lids opening in aforward direction and the other in a backward direction;

when said lid sections are completely opened, the interior portions ofsaid lids being operable to carry additional trash or other loads and inaddition to that that can be carried within the interior of the sides ofthe body of said trash cart.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground engaging member belowthe central forward portion of the bottom of the body of said trash cartcomprises a wheel in a caster structure operable to rotate in a planeparallel to the bottom of said body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body including the bottom sidesand lid member are made of aluminum.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid member has two handlemembers attached thereto on the top central surface thereof near thecentral portion of said body midway between the wheel and axleassemblies at the rear portions of the bottom of said trash cart and theforward ground engaging member near the bottom central portion of saidtrash cart.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said caster is operable to rotate360 about an axis perpendicular to the ground;

and means inhibiting the rotation of said caster comprising a toe lockfor parking on a grade.

1. In a cart for transporting trash, the improvements comprising: a bodymember having four sides and a bottom; the bottom being substantiallyrectangularly shaped and each of the sides being attached at the bottomportions thereof to said bottom portion; one pair of said sides beingparallel with one another and perpendicular to another pair of saidsides which are in turn perpendicular to one another; each of said sidesof said first mentioned rectangular pair being substantiallyrectangularly shaped, with one side having a substantially lesser heightthan the other of said sides of said first mentioned pair; each of saidsides of said second mentioned pair of sides being substantiallycongruent with respect to one another and each being in the shape of atrapezoid with the higher height of said trapezoid attaching to the oneof said first mentioned pair of sides having the higher height and thelower height of each of said trapezoidal sides being attached to saidother one of said first mentioned pair of sides having a lower height;an axle and ground engaging wheel assembly being attached near the rearportion of each one of said first pair of rectangular sides; a handlemember being in the shape of an ell and having a forward extendingportion extending forward of said cart and a lower downwardly dependingportion integral therewith and being attached near the central portionof the forward one of said second pair of trapezoidal shaped sides; athird ground engaging member attached near the forward center portionand extending downwardly from said bottom portion; a lid member having asubstantially upwardly extending curved portion and a substantiallyrectangularly shaped bottom edge engaging the top edges of said sideportions; said bottom portions of said lid member being of substantiallythe same shape and dimension as the top edge peripheries of said sides;each of said sides, said bottom and said lid being made of a relativelythin gauge of metal; said cart operable to rotate about the axis of saidwheel and axle assemblies in an upwardly pitching direction responsiveto the manual lifting of said cart at the aforementioned handle; saidcart operable to be wheeled on said wheel and axle assemblies fortranslation with respect to the ground responsive to a pulling on saidhandle in a direction forward of said cart and operable to be pushed ina backward direction by translation with respect to the ground byrolling on said aforementioned wheel and axle assemblies responsive to apushing in a backward direction by said handle; said cart operable torotate with respect to the ground responsive to a force applied bymanual means on said handle in a direction at an angle to the forward orbackward direction with respect to said cart by rolling on said wheeland axle assemblies in response to said force; said lid operable to bemanually lifted for loading and de-loading of trash within the body ofsaid trash cart; whereby trash may be stored within said cart and alsotransported to a place of dumping or collection by de-loading said cartat the point of collection or dumping.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the ground engaging member at the forward central portion ofsaid bottom is a downwardly depending stand member having a yieldablerubber stopper placed on the bottom thereof.
 3. The apparatus in claim 1wherein said lid has handles attached near the upper central portionthereof and can be lifted off completely from the body of said trashcart.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid member comprises twosections, each of said sections being hinged on the upper edge of saidtrapezoidal sides and operable to be opened in a forward and backwarddirection with respect to said cart, one of said lids opening in aforward direction and the other in a backward direction; when said lidsections are completely opened, the interior portions of said lids beingoperable to carry additional trash or other loads and in addition tothat that can be carried within the interior of the sides of the body ofsaid trash cart.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said groundengaging member below the central forward portion of the bottom of thebody of said trash cart comprises a wheel in a caster structure operableto rotate in a plane parallel to the bottom of said body.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said body including the bottom sides andlid member are made of aluminum.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid lid member has two handle members attached thereto on the topcentral surface thereof near the central portion of said body midwaybetween the wheel and axle assemblies at the rear portions of the bottomof said trash cart and the forward ground engaging member near thebottom central portion of said trash cart.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5wherein said caster is operable to rotate 360* about an axisperpendicular to the ground; and means inhibiting the rotation of saidcaster comprising a tOe lock for parking on a grade.